Living In God

Bless you, beloved. Today is Day number three (3). For some of you, it is Day number four (as some have informed me). You are doing outstanding. Keep it up; either way, we only have two days and a wake up to get to victory. Let’s look at today’s text:

“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment,

because as he is, so are we in this world. 

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.”

(1 John 4:17–18 NRSV)

“And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”

(1 John 4:17–18 NLT-SE)

“This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free

of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. 

There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.”

(1 John 4:17–18 MESSAGE)

Today, I wanted to encourage you from the word of God, and I used the text in 1 John 4:17-18 to illustrate perfect love from John’s perspective. We have adapted the theme “Let us go on Towards Perfection” as our theme for the year. To diligently pursue perfection, we must understand it in a biblical context. Jeremiah Wright credits Cornell West with saying, “We do not define terms, so we talk all around them.” Perfect love is defined by the Apostle John in this text. 

John explicates that perfect love is achieved through the process of “living in God.” In the New Living Translation, the text is rendered, “As we live in God.” This alone is a process. How does one live in God? The notion of living speaks to the ability to exist in a particular context. For a long time, I lived in Brooklyn, New York. I was born there and spent my formative years there. I do not live there now, but I have lived there for over half my life. In a very real way, Brooklyn defines me. I have travelled all over the world, literally, but all the places I have been do not define me. The places I have been may affect me, but they don’t define me. I enjoy Paris, I enjoy the people I have met there, the food I have enjoyed there, Selah. That notwithstanding, I would be a fraud to suggest that I am Parisian. 

Today, I am still comfortable in Brooklyn. I recognize Brooklyn; even when things change, I still am from Brooklyn. This defines my mindset to a certain degree. It defines my tastes, and Brooklyn defines my sense of community. 

Imagine what it would mean to be able to say, I am defined by my “living in God.” God defines my tastes; God defines my thoughts. I am comfortable with what God says is right. I detest what God says is not correct. I dress like I am from God. I may love my neighbor who does not know God. I can communicate with them, but they do not define me. Their tastes and politics are different because I live in and am defined by God. This is the process by which love is perfected. 

I want to be perfected and live in God. Let’s look at more of this text tomorrow. 

Yours Because I am His, 

Leo Colon D. Min., M.Div. 

Pastor